Tina Root
(of
Switchblade Symphony
fame) is not a
jazz
singer, but if
Strange Gathering
is any indication, the
goth
-influenced
alternative pop/rock
/
darkwave
vocalist clearly understands the interpretation concept that
artists hold so dear. Any serious
singer will tell you that if someone is going to record a famous, well-known song, the artist needs to put his/her own spin on the song instead of trying to offer a carbon copy of the original version; thankfully, there are no carbon copies on this 53-minute CD, which is an album of covers and is
Root
's first solo project. Although she bills herself as
Tre Lux
,
is most definitely her solo baby -- and she sees to it that every song she rearranges reflects her
personality.
picked an interesting variety of songs, which range from
Duran Duran
's
"The Chauffeur"
and
Ministry
"Every Day Is Halloween"
to
Radiohead
"Karma Police."
But whatever song she embraces -- whether a its origin is
industrial
Brit-pop
new wave
adult contemporary
or Top 40 --
is always relevant to the
aesthetic.
credentials are as strong on
Soundgarden
"Black Hole Sun"
as they are on
Coldplay
"Yellow,"
the Rolling Stones
'
"Wild Horses"
Norah Jones
"Come Away with Me."
Very rarely does one hear
' name and the word
used in the same sentence, but when one describes the unlikely but successful makeover that
gives
"Come Away with Me,"
the term
becomes unavoidable.
's interpretive abilities are never in question on this enjoyable and consistently intriguing solo effort. ~ Alex Henderson